News from the liberterrain...
"George attempted to video what was happening. Seconds later, they assaulted George and wrestled his video camera away. Thugs piled on George. One even put his knee on George's face." – Jim Babb, describing the official reaction to a peaceful FIJA outreach effort in Allentown PA.
US Marshals Service This is one of only a handful of photos to survive
the violent seizure of George Donnelly's camera by law enforcement
officers in Allentown PA, taken by Jim Babb with his cell phone.
In assaulting Donnelly the agents clearly violated Department of Homeland Security policy (pdf), which requires them to approach, identify themselves, and interview photographers on federal property to determine criminal behavior.
Absent criminal behavior, "the photography should be permitted to proceed unimpeded."
Two libertarian activists, George Donnelly and Jim Babb, had barely joined relentless freedom campaigner Julian Heicklen at the federal courthouse in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to help distribute Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) literature when they were confronted by US Marshals.
George Donnelly with Julian Heicklen in an earlier FIJA
outreach effort. (photo courtesy George Donnelly)
The three had worked together before but, as Babb later described this experience, "We encountered the most aggressive opposition that I have seen so far."
It began when a female agent approached Heicklen.
"Julian chose to argue with her in a belligerent fashion," Babb reports. "Within seconds, about 10 or 12 federal goons arrived. These people were extremely aggressive. The female assaulted Julian. He commanded her to back off."
That's when George Donnelly, attempting to videotape the incident, was taken down by the marshals.
From Jim Babb's report to the Libertarian News Examiner:
"I called 911 to report an assault and robbery in progress. Things were very chaotic, stressful and happening very fast.
"We all had goons in our faces, but George was targeted for extreme violence to get his camera.
"A minute or two later, more goons arrived and kidnapped George. They threatened Julian and me as well."
Jim Babb (photo by
George Donnelly)
Babb told the Libertarian News Examiner this morning in an exclusive interview that what happened to Donnelly "was a mugging and a kidnapping."
He said that Donnelly had been taken to the Lehigh County Corrections facility and later transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia.
Babb, who admitted he doesn't know where Donnelly is for sure, has contacted a lawyer and fellow libertarian in Philadelphia to find and help Donnelly.
"All contact with the public, to include photographers, must be conducted in a professional but polite manner." – Special Security Bulletin, Photography on Federally Owned and Leased Facilities (pdf).
In another ironic twist, Julian Heicklen had distributed FIJA pamphlets by himself earlier that day in Reading, PA, without incident.
Special thanks to Jim Babb for his reporting and for supplying the link to the official DHS security bulletin concerning photography of federal facilities.
A follow-up report will be posted as soon as more is known about George Donnelly's whereabouts and condition.
NOTE: Julian Heicklen needs volunteers to witness, photograph and video his outreach efforts. He encourages you to join his "Tyranny Fighters" by emailing him at jph13-at-psu-dot-edu, but be advised that the government may be intercepting his emails.
Libertarians!
What's happening in your area? Send me stories, photos, videos to publish in Libertarian News Examiner. libergarryan@aol.com
Comments
Thanks for the informative write-up. About to call the kidnappers now to hopefully ascertain some info about George.
UPDATE: Called the Federal Detention Facility in Philly and was told to call the Federal Bureau of Prisons in DC to get George's inmate number. Called them and found they close at 3:45PM EST. Used their Federal Inmate Locator interface on their website as instructed on the pre-recorded VM and found that George is not yet in their system. Was told ... See Moreby the person with whom I first spoke from the Philly facility that it those taken into custody are usually in their system the same day.
Will keep trying... If anyone has any other info let me know!
Every age, every time... badges & shields... ornaments of oppression. When will it be time to water the tree of liberty?
Please keep us updated on this kidnapping and unprovoked attack by the badgeguys.
And Jacques- it is long past time. Few want to be a martyr, and those who become one are vilified rather than supported. Remember that the govgoons will ALWAYS plant evidence to make you look like a violent crackpot after they silence you.
Photography is getting to be a risky business. Did you say that Donnelly was taken to a federal detention center? All they have to do is claim that he is suspected of being involved in "tareist" activities and he will never get an arraignment. That possibility is slightly better than being disappeared altogether. No, we are not quite there yet, but it may closer than you think.
Lets hope the footage survives.
The Storm Troopers. Just awful.
"Governments need armies to protect them against their enslaved and oppressed subjects."
-- Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi
(1828-1910) Russian writer
1893
I hope they come to their senses and apologize... unlikely. Poor Mr. Donelly
He is in Philadelphia in the custody of US marshals there; his US Marshal identification number is 653-01-066 per the office in eastern PA. That is the best I can do at this time.
One would hope that it applied regardless of target but the DHS bulletin does explicitly state it's in regards to "individuals identified taking photographs of the exterior of a facility." I guess tackling a man who's taking photographs of a man and officer arguing is OK then.
This is the job of Der Homeland Security. You are the TERRORIST and the DHS is the new Gestapo. Seig Heil.
This incident points out the need to have several video photographers taking video of the video photographers.
Additionally, the names and residence addresses of the federal law breakers should be noted in these articles and YouTube videos.
By the way, who is the female rent-a-cop with the jowls, sagging breasts and from-the-bottle red hair? Isn't she ready to retire?
Hey Tolstoy,
I'm assuming you must look like Brad Pitt then? You people are so ignorant to believe the word of an idiot like Babb who has twisted the truth about the donnelly arrest. Babb and his buddies were not peacefully protesting they were rude and totally obnoxious and they made fools of themselves. Babb and Heiclklen will try to feed you some bull that "we've won" but keep in mind paying out thousands of dollars in legal fees, spending two days in prison, and paying a $525 fine sure looks like a loss to me. Mind yourselves and try to get both sides of the story next time. But, it seems your cult isn't able to handle the truth
@Jacques...WHEN? 20 years ago.
It's good to use a smartphone with an app that immediately uploads pics and videos to the web.
Hey, at least we have a flag and a bald eagle. Isn't that what freedom is all about?
Can someone contact Ian at www.freetalklive.com to make sure they know about this and get it on the show tonight? I can't access the site at work.
Pete-
check out
bop(dot)gov and look up George S Donnelly under the inmate locator
looks like George
@Tolstoy: Seriously, dude? Do you have to resort to sexist garbage?
The female US Marshall's looks are irrelevant. So what, if she were a 19 year old hottie, it would be okay to support state-sponsored terrorism? Really?
SERIOUSLY: I think he would have dogged her, either way.
This sort of criminal brutality and malfeasance needs to be brought to the attention of our U.S. Congressmen and Senators for immediate investigations and prosecution of these U.S. Marshals (goons). This is worse than a travesty because these vermin are continuously operating as common thugs with impunity, and committing flagrant acts of terrorism against the sovereign people whom they are sworn to protect by their oath of service to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, including every provision including the Bill of Rights enumerated in the 1st - 10th Amendments.
This is just too much, and I will call my U.S. Senator, who is on the Senate Judiciary Committee tomorrow morning to bring this exigent matter to his attention. I will demand something be done to resolve this and all known similar incidents a.s.a.p.
Hey y'all, just wanted to let you know about a new Facebook group called "Friends of George Donnelly"
Unfortunately I cannot post a URL in this text box so just do a search for the group on Facebook if you want to join to stay in the loop and support George. Thanks!
Hey Tolstoy...why resort to making rude comments about the female officer? This is HER JOB. I can tell just by your remarks that you're the kind of person that should have ran down the crack of your mothers ass and ended up as a brown stain on the mattress. Oh how I love Lee Ermey....have a wonderful day!!!
My heart really bleeds, if only we knew the truth. We only hear what happened to the so called offended parties, and not the actions they actually took. There are two sides to every story and we've heard one. Alledgedly of the "offended" persons arrested and taken into custody ????? Someone isn't telling everything that happened.
Learned more about this incident, Babb and his cronies are the real liars, or should I say overexaggerate. It seems that the "goons" were not the aggressors but rather the group protesting. When you shove an officer in an argument, or an officer shoves a protester, there are consequences. It is mighty easy to blame the government rather than yourself.
I don't get it. If George is the guy in the photo on the right, what statement is his grooming choice supposed to be making? Is he standing up for the right of cross-dressers to be homely? (That hardly seems to need a spokesperson.)
To Liars Anonymous – This was not a protest event and no protesters were present, only citizens handing out brochures to other citizens on public property and US Marshals who physically denied their First Amendment rights to do so. If you have any actual FACTS to the contrary click "bio" next to my photo and email them to me. To highhatsize – please read the photo captions carefully – they are not difficult to understand. The top right photo is clearly labeled US Marshals Service. It does not say George Donnelly is in this photo, and he isn't. The second photo is clearly labeled George Donnelly and Julian Heicklen. Since English is commonly read from left to right that would clearly identify George Donnelly as being the person on the left in the photo. Hope you "get it" this time.
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